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I'm keeping my expectations low for 08 and hoping for the best. I haven't seen a lot of projections yet but the ones I've seen showed the Cards scoring a bit more than they did last year and the pitching being a bit better. Emphasis on "a bit" in both cases.

I was coming home from a hockey game last night and caught the tale end of a conversation Jeff Gordon, from the StL P-D, was having on KFNS and he was talking about Pujols and some injuries. The jist that I caught was that Pujols, who played through a lot of stuff last year, was still banged up and, if things went the same as last year, he was not inclined to play through it this year. Something about how he would just shut it down and get it taken care of. I don't know what that was all about but it got my attention. Anybody hear anything like that?

Pujols Needs Tommy John Surgery?

I just found out what they were talking about on the radio regarding Pujols. Supposedly, Pujols has a serious elbow injury and they're talking about the possibility that he might need Tommy John surgery. He's had elbow problems in the past and the elbow was a problem at the end of last year. Now he can't even straighten out his arm.

As usual, the Cardinals are doing the whole "let's put some ice on it and hope it goes away" thing. If Pujols had gotten this taken care of at the end of last season, most likely he's be ready to go opening day (May 1st at the latest) but instead the Cards are going to let him play until his arm falls off and then have the surgery.

Since there are low expectations for 08 and the club is really gearing up for a run in 09 and beyond, wouldn't it make sense for Pujols to do whatever needs to be done to get healthy. Is a 75/80% Albert Pujols really going to make a difference for the 08 Cards?

I just found out what they were talking about on the radio regarding Pujols. Supposedly, Pujols has a serious elbow injury and they're talking about the possibility that he might need Tommy John surgery. He's had elbow problems in the past and the elbow was a problem at the end of last year. Now he can't even straighten out his arm.

As usual, the Cardinals are doing the whole "let's put some ice on it and hope it goes away" thing. If Pujols had gotten this taken care of at the end of last season, most likely he's be ready to go opening day (May 1st at the latest) but instead the Cards are going to let him play until his arm falls off and then have the surgery.

Since there are low expectations for 08 and the club is really gearing up for a run in 09 and beyond, wouldn't it make sense for Pujols to do whatever needs to be done to get healthy. Is a 75/80% Albert Pujols really going to make a difference for the 08 Cards?

God D***it! I hate the cards sometimes. They are so overly cautious about somethings (icing), but not others (surgery). Pujols just needs to be as healthy as possible now. I agree 100% on the 75/80 pujols in 08 theory...

Yeah, me too. I wish I had some hard news on this or something to link to but all I got is the tail end of a Jeff Gordon talk on KFNS and then something on Viva El Birdo about Pujols talking at the Winter Warm Up about shuting it down and getting surgery if the pain was as bad as last year.

It sounds real but I'm not 100% on this. I guess we'll just have to wait for some word from the Cardinals.

If the elbow barks at him again this season, Pujols vows to back off his workload.

The Cards can live with that. Josh Phelps ought to make this team as a power-hitting back-up and pinch-hitter. He could take some pressure off Albert and help him manage his nagging leg and elbow problems.

If the same problem is happening this year, I don't think I'm going to play the whole year the same way, Pujols said at the Warm-up. I sacrificed my body.

Pujols has met with Larussa (at the Winter Warm Up) to discuss ways to lessen his workload if the elbow causes problems.

If he misses significant time, the Cubs, Brewers, Astros and maybe the Reds will finish higher than us.....

If the elbow barks at him again this season, Pujols vows to back off his workload.

The Cards can live with that. Josh Phelps ought to make this team as a power-hitting back-up and pinch-hitter. He could take some pressure off Albert and help him manage his nagging leg and elbow problems.

If the same problem is happening this year, I don't think I'm going to play the whole year the same way, Pujols said at the Warm-up. I sacrificed my body.

Pujols has met with Larussa (at the Winter Warm Up) to discuss ways to lessen his workload if the elbow causes problems.

If he misses significant time, the Cubs, Brewers, Astros and maybe the Reds will finish higher than us.....

Have you seen the starting staff/ outfield defense/infield offense? If he misses NO time those teams will finish ahead of us!

update on pujols:

Tommy John Surgery

Originally Posted by hubkittel

I just found out what they were talking about on the radio regarding Pujols. Supposedly, Pujols has a serious elbow injury and they're talking about the possibility that he might need Tommy John surgery. He's had elbow problems in the past and the elbow was a problem at the end of last year. Now he can't even straighten out his arm.

As usual, the Cardinals are doing the whole "let's put some ice on it and hope it goes away" thing. If Pujols had gotten this taken care of at the end of last season, most likely he's be ready to go opening day (May 1st at the latest) but instead the Cards are going to let him play until his arm falls off and then have the surgery.

Since there are low expectations for 08 and the club is really gearing up for a run in 09 and beyond, wouldn't it make sense for Pujols to do whatever needs to be done to get healthy. Is a 75/80% Albert Pujols really going to make a difference for the 08 Cards?

If Albert had Tommy John during the offseason I don't think he would be ready by Opening Day. Tommy John surgery takes 10 - 12 months recovery time.

PECOTA projections, as mentioned at Viva El Birdos, have the Cards at 72 wins for 2008...

...but as I mentioned in my "prediction" in the other thread -- and I see I was in agreement with another poster -- the Cards are either going to that bad, or they'll be the story of the year in the NL.

PECOTA projections, as mentioned at Viva El Birdos, have the Cards at 72 wins for 2008...

...but as I mentioned in my "prediction" in the other thread -- and I see I was in agreement with another poster -- the Cards are either going to that bad, or they'll be the story of the year in the NL.

I thought that it would be cool if I made a video response...

Without:
Couldn't find video of eckstein

It'll be up to these guys:
Couldn't find the one I have on Duncan... but he counts too...

It sounds like Albert is crushing the ball in Florida. However, the lingering problem still remains. From what I understand is Albert is going to keep going until he blows it out. The Cardinals want him to slow down a little and LaRussa is planning more days off for Albert in 2008. I guess that Josh Phelps signing makes a little more sense now. I'm also hearing Juan Gonzalez might see a little time at 1B. How about Chris Duncan and playing someone else in the OF once in awhile. Spiezio can spell nicely, too.

JUPITER, Fla. -– Cardinals minor-league pitcher Donnie Smith is in a Palm Beach County jail after being arrested Wednesday night on a felony charge of aggravated battery, police said Thursday.

Smith, 25, allegedly punched a man in the nose at a restaurant near the Cardinals’ minor-league and spring training complex in Jupiter’s Abacoa community. The incident happened Sept. 20, 2007, according to the police report, and a Jupiter Police Department spokesman said the investigation filled the time between complaint and arrest.

The Cardinals did not have an immediate statement regarding the arrest, news of which comes a day after the team released major-leaguer Scott Spiezio in response to six misdemeanor charges filed against him in California.

Smith pitched last season for the Cardinals High-A team, which is located in Jupiter. A fourth-round pick in the 2004 amateur draft, Smith was 2-1 with a 3.03 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings over 37 relief appearances. He has a career ERA of 3.73 in four minor-league seasons.

According to the police report, Smith was at Masa Sagami restaurant on Sept. 20 and witnesses told police that Smith had said to his girlfriend that he would "knock out" George Berne, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

When police arrived at the scene the fight was already over and Berne "had been struck in the face and was bleeding badly," the report read.

On Oct. 18, Berne identified Smith for detectives.

A probable cause affidavit was filed on Oct. 22, 2007. A arraignment is scheduled for March 6.